The Bolsheviki declared their intention to
break it up as quickly as possible, and there was not much optimism in
non-socialist circles; one felt that it would not survive many weeks. But
this third Coalition Government gave a greater promise of success than
any previous attempt. There was hope that it would last, and hold the
situation together, at least until the Constituent Assembly could meet.
This hope was not realized, as we know, and the break-up of the government
came within a month, when the Bolsheviki at last accomplished their
long-planned armed uprising, and by force established what they called the
dictatorship of the proletariat. Acting on the very eve of the opening of
the Constituent Assembly, the elections for which were already in progress,
the Bolsheviki showed clearly their contempt for a really national, popular
form of government. The Bolshevik uprising was followed by civil war. But
this was the aim of the extremists, for they were against social peace,
cooperation, coalition, and were striving for class war.
Until this last month the Russian Revolution, though marked by extreme
antagonisms, and much wrangling, was nevertheless comparatively peaceful in
character. There was no extensive violence, such as would justify the use
of the term "civil war." It was to avoid civil war that such constant, and
on the whole honest, efforts were made to "unite all the vital forces
of the country.
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